State to Form New High-Tech Jobs Committee

Six State Assembly members representing San Diego County are candidates for a new committee tasked with creating high-tech jobs, it was announced Wednesday.

Candidates for the Select Committee on Job Creation for the New Economy include Assembly members Nathan Fletcher, Martin Garrick, Brian Jones, Toni Atkins, Marty Block and Ben Hueso. Fletcher, who represents Poway and parts of San Diego including Rancho Bernardo, is expected to chair the committee.

Fletcher said creating jobs and embracing the new economy should be the top priorities of the government.

"There is a great need to work together to ensure our state is a more competitive place to grow innovative companies,'' said Fletcher, who is also a mayoral candidate in San Diego. "This committee will pinpoint what is preventing large and small businesses from investing and expanding in the state so we can empower them to create jobs.'' 

Among other things, the committee will:

• Identify companies inside and outside California that are succeeding.
• Determine how to retain or attract successful companies.
• Explore ways to develop public-private partnerships.
• Attract private investment.
• Identify and eliminate roadblocks to job creation.
• Find ways to help public education provide a competitive workforce.

California needs to make business executives feel comfortable that it is the right place to make a long-term investment, said Jason Pyle, the CEO of Sapphire Energy, a La Jolla firm where the announcement was made.

City News Service contributed to this report.